Fish Populations, Following a Drought, in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes Rivers of Kansas — John Shaqi
Fish Populations, Following a Drought, in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes Rivers of KansasDeacon, James E.
Science
Fish Populations, Following a Drought, in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes Rivers of Kansas
Deacon, James E.
Fish populations; Freshwater fishes -- Kansas -- Population dynamics -- Stocks
The gravel chub, present only at the lower and middle Neosho stations,
occupied moderate currents over clean (free of silt) gravel bottom. The
gravel chub was not taken in 1957, was rare at both Neosho stations in
1958, became common at the lower Neosho station in part of 1959, but was
never numerous at the middle Neosho station. Dr. F. B. Cross recorded
the species as "rare" in 1952 at a collection site near my middle Neosho
station, but larger numbers were taken then than in any of my
collections at that station. The population was probably reduced by
drought, and recovery was comparatively slow following restoration of
flow.
Young-of-the-year and adults were common in collections from riffles at
the lower Neosho station from 1 July through 8 July, 1959. I obtained
only one specimen in intensive collections in the same area on 25, 26,
and 27 August. Seemingly the species had moved off shallow riffles into
areas not sampled effectively by seining.
#Phenacobius mirabilis# (Girard)
Sucker-mouthed Minnow
The sucker-mouthed minnow was common at the middle Marais des Cygnes
station but was not taken at the upper and lower stations until 1959,
when it was rare. At the middle and lower Neosho stations this fish
increased in abundance from 1957 to 1959; at the upper station,
sucker-mouthed minnows were not taken until 1959 when collections were
made on the White farm. There, the species was common immediately below
a low-head dam, but was not taken in extensive collections on the Bosch
Farm in 1959.
The species was most common immediately below riffles, or in other areas
having clean gravel bottom in the current. On 5 June, 1959, many
individuals were taken at night (11:30 p.m.) on a shallow gravel riffle
(four inches in depth) where none had been found in a collection at 5:00
p.m. on the same date.
Young-of-the-year were taken at the lower Neosho station on 24 June,
1959, and commonly thereafter in the summer.
#Notropis rubellus# (Agassiz)
Rosy-faced Shiner
In 1958, the rosy-faced shiner was taken rarely at the lower stations on
both streams. This species is common in smaller streams tributary to the
lower portions of the two rivers, and probably occurs in the mainstream
only as "overflow" from tributaries. Possibly, during drought,
rosy-faced shiners found suitable habitat in the mainstream of Neosho
and Marais des Cygnes rivers, but re-occupied tributary streams as their
flow increased with favorable precipitation, leaving diminishing
populations in the mainstream.
#Notropis umbratilis# (Girard)
Red-finned Shiner
The red-finned shiner, most abundant at the upper Neosho station,
occurred at all stations except the upper Marais des Cygnes. This fish
seems to prefer small streams, not highly turbid, having clean, hard
bottoms. It is a pool-dwelling, pelagic species.
#Notropis camurus# (Jordan and Meek)
Blunt-faced Shiner
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